Schools on lockdown with students told to ‘switch off phones’ as cops scrambled to ‘bomb threat’

SCHOOLS were put in lockdown after cops scrambled to a “bomb threat” – with students told to “switch off phones”.

An urgent manhunt was launched at 11.35am after reports that a man had made the threat against a school in Farnborough, Hampshire.

Local schools went into lockdown before cops arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of making threats to kill.

No bombs were found, nobody was injured and the schools have now been given the all clear.

Farnborough Sixth Form College said: “The College was placed into lockdown at approximately 11.45am on the advice of the police.

“This was in response to a report from a member of the public. The police are onsite.”

In an update at 1pm, the college said: “On the advice of the Police, the lockdown has been reinstated.”

Hampshire Constabulary said: “We were called at 11.35am to a report that a male in the Farnborough area had made a bomb threat against a school.

“Local schools were alerted as a precaution and placed into lockdown to confirm the safety of staff and students as efforts were made to locate this man.

“A 40-year-old man from Farnborough has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill.

“He remains in custody. No explosive devices have been located as a result of this arrest.

“Local schools have been informed that there is no longer any threat and they can now come out of lockdown.”